Volkswagen seems to believe so judging by the price
bumps of up to US$ 1,550 for the 2019 e-Golf lineup. That appears to be a curious
move, considering the ever-increasing competition in the compact electric
vehicle segment and the fact that the e-Golf is not quite a new product —
despite the updates introduced for the 2017 model year.
The base 2019 VW e-Golf SE starts at US$ 32,790
(including US$ 895 destination), which makes it US$ 1,400 more expensive than the
equivalent 2018 model. As for the better-equipped 2019 VW e-Golf SEL Premium,
it is priced from US$ 39,790 — US$ 1,550 more than the 2018 version.
The 2019 e-Golf does bring more features
as standard compared to last year. The SE adds a DC Fast Charger, which used to
be a $995 option on the 2018 model. It allows customers who have access to a DC
fast charging station to recharge nearly 80 percent of the battery within an
hour.
Another change for the base SE grade is the
availability of the Driver Assistance Package, previously exclusive to the SEL
Premium. The pack costs an extra US$ 650 and adds adaptive cruise control with
stop & go capability, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian
detection, and a blind spot monitor.
On the 2019 e-Golf SEL Premium, the Driver
Assistance Package has now become standard (it was a US$ 1,075 option before).
Compared to the same namesake pack offered on the SE, it adds automatic high
beams and a parking assistance feature.
Unfortunately, the e-Golf’s driving range remains
unchanged at 200 km. That’s significantly lower than what most
rivals offer. For example, the standard 2019 Nissan Leaf S offers a 241-km range for US$ 30,875 while the entry-level 2019 Bolt EV LT comes with a 383-km range and a US$ 37,495 MSRP. All prices exclude tax credits.
